Chart of Yarn Weights, Wraps per Inch, Yarn Names and Typical Tension / Gauge Standard Weight See the section ‘ Substituting Yarns’ below. Always check the recommended tension and knit a tension square to ensure you can match the tension of the pattern. Never substitute a yarn based on the traditional name alone. The boundaries between the different traditional weight classes are not set in stone, different manufacturers may label yarn differently. The terms two-ply, three-ply etc are misleading, in this context they are historical categories of yarn diameter and don’t necessarily have any relation to the number of strands or plies in the yarn. The chart below is a quick reference guide to the different yarn weights and can help with yarn substitutions. Yarns are classified by their “yarn weight” which has nothing to do with how heavy they are but everything to do with the thickness of the yarn. Yarn Substitution: Helpful hints on substituting yarns when you are following a pattern but don’t want to use the recommended yarn. Yarn Fibres: The different properties of various yarn fibres including details of what these fibres are like to knit with as well as the properties of the knitted fabric.ģ. There are also some tips on choosing yarns for new knitters.Ģ. Yarn Types: This covers the different weights of yarns from superfine to super bulky as well as the novelty yarns such as tapes and eyelash yarn. Click on the headings below to go straight to the information you need.ġ. I’ve split the info on yarns into 3 sections.